On April 27, 2005, President Bush announced that he was taking steps to increase energy supplies in this time of increasing energy costs.

On April 27, 2005, President Bush announced to an audience at a small business conference that he was taking steps to increase energy supplies in this time of increasing energy costs. The announced plans should benefit the environmental market as additional pollution controls will be required.

Bush called for additional oil refineries to be built. No new refineries have been built in nearly three decades. He said he had directed federal agencies to simplify the permitting process for refinery construction and begin negotiating with local communities.

No new nuclear power plants have been constructed in nearly 30 years as well. Bush called on congress to provide special insurances to the industry to help get new construction started.

Demand for natural gas has grown and those costs have escalated as well. Plants can ship the gas in a liquefied state to the U.S. but there are only four terminals that can accept such shipments. Bush said he would endorse giving federal regulators final approval over locating more terminals.

Efforts to develop alternative energies such as diesel, biodiesel, hydrogen, wind, etc. will remain a top priority as well. Spokespersons for nuclear and oil industries said they still anticipate resistance to building their facilities over environmental and health concerns.